Amid rumors, prayers and concern in Little Havana
By Alan Clendenning, Associated Press, 04/21/00
MIAMI - Reports that federal authorities soon could be coming to take Elian Gonzalez spread throughout Little Havana today as protesters prayed for the 6-year-old boy to remain in his Miami home.
"You wouldn't return a Jewish child to the Nazis," said Margaret Buchenhorner, a 75-year-old retired elementary school teacher. Among about 150 protesters at the scene this morning, she said she was praying for Elian to remain in Miami -- with his father.
"If he cares so much for his child, he should come down here," she said of the boy's father, Juan Miguel Gonzalez, who flew from Cuba to Washington on April 6 and has been hoping for a reunion.
"I feel sorry for that man because he's a prisoner," she said in a trembling voice.
According to published reports, Attorney General Janet Reno has decided to remove Elian from his great-uncle's home in Miami and has told authorities to determine the best time to do so. The move reportedly could come by the middle of next week.
Jesus Almeida, 34, was on his way to a courthouse to pick up divorce paperwork when he heard the reports on the radio. He said he decided to come to Little Havana because he thinks it's important for lots of people to be in the area.
Asked if there was the potential for violence, he said: "I hope not, but if it does I'll be here to do whatever it takes to keep Elian here."
Ramon Saul Sanchez, leader of the anti-Castro Democracy Movement, said government officials should try to arrange a meeting between the Miami relatives and the father instead of planning to remove the boy.
"They should do their best to see if the family can sit under one roof without government officials, without activists and without attorneys so they can attempt to resolve this issue in a family context," he said.
"We continue to urge the government to work on the solution approach instead of the violent approach," he said.
Earlier, Sanchez appeared before a crowd of about 50 people in the early-morning darkness and told them that five or six pro-Castro infiltrators might be among them. He encouraged people to remain peaceful and wary.
"Don't let anyone provoke anyone," he said.
